MenoSundays; Life Lived Lovingly

Menokreatikkul; Saturday Stitches

Last week I simply placed in this spot two wee teaser shots. The colourful one can wait for another post. Let's concentrate on the turquoise item.

Continuing the saga of breaking the stash of cotton yarns inherited from my ol' ma, I have found there to be significant differences, just as there can be with wool and other fibres. Not a surprise, really, if one thinks about it, but I suppose I wasn't really (thinking about it, I mean), so I have found it soul-destroying interesting to learn how one must adapt to what is running through one's fingers. 

First, there was that light blue stuff, which worked up as if an 8-ply (double-knitting) yarn and seemed to stick to everything but the wide-gauge Tunisian hook I ended up using. 

Then there were the different spins on the stuff I used in the initial attempt at the miniscarf caper, using up some of the scrappier ends. I like wearing that, but knitting them I learned that not all were happy on the two-needle system of yarnwork. I was also learning that the difference between mercerised yarns and uncoated cottons makes for a b******* challenge. Then it was agonising surprising to discover that not all mercerised cottons work the same way or are happy on the same tools.

Some are definitely more user-friendly than others. The larger project that is being worked on in the background just now is making use of a variety, and one of them is darn close to being classed more as a string than a true yarn. More on that when it gets to the FO stage.

All this brings me to the turquoise. It was a full cone when I started out with the knitted mini-scarf/head-wrap and bandana/collar I showed you a couple of weeks back. It knitted okay, but definitely responded well to standard crochet. I had the notion to create something a little bit fancier to present to my visitor, and, having had success with the Tunisian style on that light blue mercer, I thought to give that a go... a few rows into the first attempt, I frogged it because there were some unprintable words being uttered. The yarn was sticking to the hook, so I figured I needed to go up a couple of sizes. Nope. Maybe it was because the hooks I was using were of the bamboo variety, let's try the metal instead... aaarrrggghhhhh

Five froggings of work later, I resorted to the standard hooks. The yarn was a heavy fingering to light sportweight, so I used a 5.5mm hook to ensure a good 'drape'. 

Casting on thirty chains, it is worked entirely in hdc (UKhdt) stitching. Three rows at the start and finish were worked solid, then moved to four solid border stitches at either end, and the body was worked as a *hdc, ch* repeat, each row worked directly above (i.e., stitch into stitch, chain above chain) to create a netted effect. It would have been the better of a steam press, but as it was going to be packed for travel, I didn't bother with that. This stitching turned out to be a real pleasure to do with this yarn and hook, and - as Joni herself said - the worked product had "good hand", draping really nicely... So here it is on it's recipient...

Menoturals; Cattle Crew

Well, it's time to share for Nature Friday with the LLB gang, and I still have two breeds of cattle to show off.

Today's breed is the mighty fine Hereford. This is a breed that has been much developed and re-bred and has become favoured the world over. Most of the cattle with this name outside the UK are from modern (post-WW2) breeding programmes. Here in the British Isles, though, there is a move to retain and return to full use the Original Population (OP) standard of the breed.

It wasn't until the mid-eighteenth century, when many farmers were getting interested in the more scientific aspects of breeding, that a certain Benjamin Tompkins of Herefordshire introduced some of the white-faced Welsh Marches to his home herd of an undefined breed name. Those cattle were short in stature but very hardy. The work on the breed was taken up by the Hewers (father Wm and son John), and it was they who are credited with formalising the deep red colouring with the white markings.

The photo I have from the Westmoreland show is of a very fine bull from the OP family: note the shortish legs and compact body. I could look over the withers of this animal, so they are definitely not tall, but very, very solid.

Herefords are much-loved and are often to be found mingled with other breeds on many farms. I have previously told you of the terminology of the Highland Cattle, in that a collection of them is referred to as a Fold. Folds are not simply herds, but might also be considered as 'clans', so relationships can be traced via the breed books.

Well, Herefords are equally aristocratic: in their case, the terminology is 'Tribe'. In the OP family, there are some very clear tribes, traceable back to those early breeding regimes. First and foremost arises from John Hewer's prized cow, Old Rosabelle, and is called the Dainty Tribe. 

Then there is the Countess Tribe and the Belladonna Tribe. Some are grouped together, such as the Maria, Plum and Pretty Maid lines under the umbrella of the Wintercott Tribes. There are the Carwardine and Arkwright Tribes, again with sub-tribes... if anyone is really keen on reading about family trees for cattle, you can check out this page!

Herefords are primarily known as beef cattle, but are also good for boosting dairy herds when crossed in. They are considered among the more docile cattle for handling, just don't make any sudden movements!

Now to remind you all that next week is FFF time again - offer up something just a little bit different, informative, fun, awe-inspiring...